The Changing Seasons – October

October has certainly been turbo-charged. It is THE month for socialising, both on a personal level and more generally for the local community. Spring is party time.

We shared the start of the month with a special friend who had a special birthday at a secret location. It was a perfect spot for a birthday celebration. A few of us drove in (all wheel drive only). Others hiked in. Everyone brought something to add to the birthday feast. We camped overnight. It was a bit nippy, but oh, the serenity. I’ll definitely be returning.

(Click on photos to enlarge)

In September/October, there is a big tulip festival, Floriade, in Canberra organised by the local government. On the outskirts of town is another private garden, Tulip Tops, that also opens to the public each year. My friend and I visited Tulip Tops on a grey day. Such a spectacle of beautiful flowering ornamental fruit trees under sown with drifts of tulips and other flowering bulbs – it was almost too much for me to take in. Everyone had their cameras out; at every turn, the perfect Instagram moment!

What a huge undertaking this must be for the owners of Tulip Tops. Unlike Floriade, there is no huge marketing budget to attract visitors, but the place is magic and every year visitor numbers grow. As my friend and I were leaving, a young lady and her beau entered carrying a beautiful yellow dress. Wedding photos or an Instagram photo shoot perhaps? Anyway, good luck to them.

I much prefer the delicacy of native Australian plants, but even I had to admit that Tulip Tops was absolutely stunning. The owners are deserving of their success. Each bulb is planted with love. The same can be said for Canberra’s Floriade flower display. Floriade is a little more programmed, rowdy and crowded, but it too is a labour of love. So visit both if you have the opportunity. Appreciate the differences. Spend time and relax. Or if you are a (big) kid, race around madly. The flowers are nice, but the people are the real story.

Further afield, there was also plenty to see. We happened to visit Harden-Murrumburrah on the day of their kite festival. The main street of the small town was like a car park as cars queued for miles to get into the festival grounds. We were there for another reason (ie. honey – see Something’s Cooking in Harden Murrumburrah). The kite festival looked so much fun. Just down the road, the Temora Aviation Museum was holding the Warbirds Downunder airshow. 20,000 visitors were expected. The following weekend, Murrumbateman held its agricultural field days. See, it is all happening in October.

Not only people have been soaking up the warmth of the spring sun. The reptiles have been out and about too. We spotted a shingleback crossing the road and an Eastern Bearded-Dragon trying on a new skin for size.

As for the birds, they’ve been extra busy building nests and raising chicks.

Purple swamphens collect rushes for nest building.

Black swan and cygnets

Scrub wren fledgling

Congratulations if you’ve got this far. You must be exhausted. Soon we will settle into a slower pace. Nothing marks the end of this period of fecundity more than the fluff falling. It is said that if you haven’t started studying for exams by the time the fluff falls, you are in trouble. To me, the fluff signals lazy days ahead.

Every month Su Leslie from Zimmerbitchhosts a monthly photo challenge, The Changing Seasons. Check it out and join in the fun.

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36 thoughts on “The Changing Seasons – October”

I hadn’t heard of Tulip Tops so I must remember that if I ever get to Canberra in spring. I’ve always wanted to see Floriade but have only been to Canberra once to visit friends and it was only for a winter weekend so I’d like to back anyway. I have been to “Bloomin’Tulips” at Wynyard in northern Tasmania, that’s pretty special too. I do love bulbs.
Your picnic spot looks pretty nice too though. I’d be wanting to go there again.

Wow what a busy month, I’m exhausted just reading about it. I loved Floriade but adored Tulip Tops. I still remember that moment as I crossed the bridge and rounded the corner and stopped in wonder at the magical spectacle of that gorgeous spring display with classical music softly playing. It just took my breath away. That fluff looks like a drift of snow, what is the tree?

Hi Pauline, yes it has been busy. I’ve now got a head cold for my efforts. Tulip Tops is special. I went on a pretty cold day during the last week so there were few people. Those that were there were completely enchanted. You must come again. The blossom was wafting on the breeze. It was just fabulous.

The fluff had collected around those trees, but they weren’t the same trees that were shedding it. We think the fluff trees are white poplars. It is a little unpleasant when you get a mouthful. The pollen count is quite high here at the moment, so not great for those with asthma.

What a fun October you are having! The camping trip looks wonderful, I love seeing the tulips in all their colours and the young birdlife, especially the black swan and her cygnets. There’s still a few days left this month, hope they are as good as the rest! 🤗💖 I

Happy autumn to you too, Steph. It has certainly been a lovely spring here. We’ve had just a tiny bit of rain here to freshen the gardens up. But my goodness, we got to 29C the other day, and further north, they’ve had temps in the high 30s already. Summer is going to be a hot one.

No snow. We are too low down at only 600-700 metres. The Snowy Mountains are a couple of hours drive away, but snow does fall in the Brindabellas. It is all national park though so you can’t take your dog.

Great photos, Tracy..the one of the yellow flowers (forsythia?) at Tulip Tops is a stunner. There’s certainly a lot going on in your neck of the woods. And what an inspired special birthday. The food looks delicious and I expect the birthday person had a memorable celebration.

Wow! What stunning colours and photos, Tracy! Love the one with the bright yellow flowers and the woman in her yellow coat, and the tables decorated in flowers look wonderful! And the reptiles look both fantastic! As does the buffet at your friend’s birthday party. 😉 You’ve clearly had a wonderful month, thanks for sharing all these lovely photos and impressions with us!

Thank you, Sarah. I loved the yellow raincoat and the young girl with the pink jacket. They mirrored the colours in the landscape. Trust the artist to pick up on that. 🙂 It was a fabulous month. Now to recover from the head cold.